Chris Heaton-Harris attended the first cabinet meeting under new PM Rishi Sunak.
London on Friday ruled out a December election to break political deadlock in Northern Ireland, where a standoff over post-Brexit trade rules is preventing resumption of a power-sharing government.
"I can now confirm that no Assembly election will take place in December, or ahead of the festive season. I will make a statement in parliament to lay out my next steps," Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said in a written statement.
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